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Watching This Will Put Riding Iceland On Your Short List

 Alex Chacón shows us why Iceland may be the most beautiful land on earth.

Published on 10.24.2016

If all you know about Iceland is geysers, glaciers and Bjork, check out adventure rider Alex Chacón’s video on riding the land of fire and ice. Turns out that this small island nation is at the top of many adventure rider’s bucket list rides. Why? Because the scenery is otherworldly. A place that looks like the forces of nature are still battling it out for domination.

The footage in the video is stunning. Chacón rides his BMW F700GS through green meadows, and past snow-capped peaks and rock formations that resemble medieval fortresses. He shoots falls that rival Niagara in size and intensity, cruises across smooth plains of black volcanic ash, and captures telling details such as bubbling mud baths and steaming hot springs. You can almost smell the sulfur in the air.

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Not to mention that the riding itself looks pretty amazing. Iceland’s asphalt roads are smooth and twisty in spots, and there are countless dirt roads that allow you to explore the remote reaches of the country.

Chacón is Internet famous for his two “Around the World in 360 Degrees” videos, which he calls “epic selfies.” Both document his extensive travels by everything from KLR to camel, with him at the center of action whirling around in classic selfie 360 mode. His website, “The Modern Motorcycle Diaries” has a full list of his travels and films, including footage from his 503-day, 82,000 trip from Texas, to South America and back to Alaska.

His Iceland video is characteristic of his quick-cut, no narration style that uses scenery to drive interest. Chacón relies heavily on drone footage, and in this case it’s probably the only way to convey the majesty of the place. Make sure to watch the accompanying “Behind the Scenes Vlog #1” to get a full idea of what riding is like in Iceland. Spoiler alert: it’s cold, windy and rains a lot.

Bob has been riding motorcycles since age 19 and working as a journalist since he was 24, which was a long time ago, let’s put it that way. He quit for the better part of a decade to raise a family, then rediscovered adventure, dual sport and enduro riding in the early 2000s. He lives in Arkansas, America’s best-kept secret when it comes to riding destinations, and travels far and wide in search of dirt roads and trails.